Techniques for displaying an animated calling card

ABSTRACT

According to various exemplary embodiments, a communication request from a caller is received at a mobile device associated with a callee. A relationship between the caller and the callee is determined. Animation rule information is accessed, where the animation rule information describes a plurality of animation rules corresponding to a plurality of relationships. Thereafter, a display of an animation is generated via a user interface in the mobile device of the callee, based on a specific animation rule in the animation rule information that corresponds to the relationship between the caller and the callee.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and dataas described below and in the drawings that form a part of thisdocument: Copyright eBay, Inc. 2013, All Rights Reserved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to electronic communicationsand, in one specific example, to techniques for displaying an animatedelectronic calling card.

BACKGROUND

The use of mobile phones (including smartphones) has increased rapidlyin recent years. Conventionally, when a user receives an incomingtelephone call on their mobile phone, the user interface of the mobilephone will display a notification of the incoming call. Such anotification typically identifies the telephone number of the caller,and an identity of the caller, if known. Various conventionalnotifications may also include a static picture of the caller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system, withinwhich one example embodiment may be deployed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example system, according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of user directory information, accordingto various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of animation rule information, accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displaying anotification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displaying anotification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displaying anotification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of an animation sequence, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayinga notification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example method, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayinga text message, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayingan email message, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayinga profile of a contact, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface for editinga profile of a contact, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface for editinganimation rules, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface for editingan animation rule, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface for editingan animation rule, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of an animation sequence, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayinga notification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayinga notification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary portion of a user interface displayinga notification of an incoming call, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example method, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example method, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein, may be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and systems for displaying an animated calling card aredescribed. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example embodiments. It will be evident, however, toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system 100, withinwhich one example embodiment may be deployed. A networked system 102provides server-side functionality via a network 104 (e.g., the Internetor Wide Area Network (WAN)) to one or more clients. FIG. 1 illustrates,for example, a web client 106 (e.g., a browser), and a programmaticclient 108 executing on respective client machines 110 and 112.

An Application Program Interface (API) server 114 and a web server 116are coupled to, and provide programmatic and web interfaces respectivelyto, one or more application servers 118. The application servers 118host one or more applications 120. The application servers 118 are, inturn, shown to be coupled to one or more databases servers 124 thatfacilitate access to one or more databases 126. According to variousexemplary embodiments, the applications 120 may correspond to one ormore of the modules of the system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. While theapplications 120 are shown in FIG. 1 to form part of the networkedsystem 102, it will be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, theapplications 120 may form part of a service that is separate anddistinct from the networked system 102.

Further, while the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 employs a client-serverarchitecture, the present invention is of course not limited to such anarchitecture, and could equally well find application in a distributed,or peer-to-peer, architecture system, for example. The variousapplications 120 could also be implemented as standalone softwareprograms, which do not necessarily have networking capabilities.

The web client 106 accesses the various applications 120 via the webinterface supported by the web server 116. Similarly, the programmaticclient 108 accesses the various services and functions provided by theapplications 120 via the programmatic interface provided by the APIserver 114.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a third party application 128, executing on athird party server machine 130, as having programmatic access to thenetworked system 102 via the programmatic interface provided by the APIserver 114. For example, the third party application 128 may, utilizinginformation retrieved from the networked system 102, support one or morefeatures or functions on a website hosted by the third party. The thirdparty website may, for example, provide one or more functions that aresupported by the relevant applications of the networked system 102.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an animation display system 200 includes adetermination module 202, an animation generation module 204, and adatabase 206. The modules of the animation display system 200 may beimplemented on a single device such as an animation display device, oron separate devices interconnected via a network. The aforementionedanimation display device may correspond to, for example, one of theclient machines (e.g. 110, 112) or application server(s) 118 illustratedin FIG. 1.

According to various exemplary embodiments described herein, when a userreceives an incoming telephone call on their mobile device (e.g., amobile phone, a cell phone, a smartphone, a tablet device, etc.), theanimation display system 200 will dynamically display a contextuallyrelevant animation in the user interface of the mobile device. Forexample, the contextually relevant animation may reflect therelationship between a user placing the call (the “caller”) and the userreceiving the call (the “callee”). For example, if the caller and thecallee have a romantic relationship, the animation display system 200may generate a romance-related animation featuring a heart-shapedobject. As another example, if the caller and the callee have a businessrelationship, the animation display system 200 may generate abusiness-related animation featuring an office environment, an officefile cabinet, etc. Moreover, the contextually relevant animation mayinclude media content related to the identities of the caller or callee,such as profile pictures, graphics, photographs, videos, company logos,etc. For example, if the caller and the callee have a romanticrelationship, the animation display system 200 may generate an animationof the caller's profile picture and the callee's profile picture movingtogether over a heart-shaped background. As another example, if thecaller and the callee have a business relationship, then the animationdisplay system 200 may generate an animation of the caller at work in anoffice with a computer or file cabinet, with the company logo of thecaller displayed on the wall of the office. Thus, in various exemplaryembodiments, the contextually relevant animation may correspond to ananimated electronic calling card that represents the identity of thecaller or the callee, or a relationship between the caller and thecallee. Numerous other examples will become apparent to those skilled inthe art.

Thus, instead of a user being shown only the name or telephone number ofa caller when they receive a telephone call from the caller, theanimation display system 200 generates an informative, interesting, andentertaining animation for display on the user's mobile device. Such ananimation provides the user with more information about the caller andthe probable nature of the call, permitting the user to make a betterdecision about whether to answer the incoming call or how to otherwisehandle the incoming call. The techniques described herein may encouragegreater interaction between users and their mobile devices, and mayultimately promote greater communication between users.

For example, FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 300,according to various embodiments. The method 300 may be performed atleast in part by, for example, the animation display system 200illustrated in FIG. 2 (or an apparatus having similar modules, such asclient machines 110 and 112 or application server 112 illustrated inFIG. 1). In 301, the determination module 202 receives, at a mobiledevice associated with a first user (the “callee”), a communicationrequest from a second user (the “caller”). In 302, the determinationmodule 202 determines a relationship between the caller and the callee.For example, the determination module 202 may determine the relationshipbetween the caller and the callee based on user directory information ofthe callee. In 303, the animation generation module 204 accessesanimation rule information describing animation rules corresponding tovarious relationships. Finally, in 304, the animation generation module204 generates a display of an animation, via a user interface in thefirst mobile device of the callee, based on a specific one of theanimation rules in the animation rule information that corresponds tothe relationship determined in 302. In other words, the animationgeneration module 204 generates a display of an animation correspondingto the relationship between the caller and the callee. Each of theaforementioned operations 301-304, and each of the aforementionedmodules of the animation display system 200, will now be described ingreater detail.

Referring back to FIG. 3, in 301, the determination module 202 receives,at a first mobile device associated with a callee, a communicationrequest from a caller. According to an exemplary embodiment, thecommunication request may correspond to a conventional telephone callplaced over a cellular or voice-over-IP (VOIP) network (wherein, forexample, the caller specifies the telephone number of the callee via atelephonic device, thereby placing a call directed at callee). Accordingto various other exemplary embodiments, the communication request maycorrespond to, for example, a text message (such as a short messageservice (SMS) text message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) textmessage), an instant message, an e-mail message, a video chat request,etc. The embodiments described herein are also applicable to other typesof electronic communications or electronic communication requestsunderstood by those skilled in the art.

In 302, the determination module 202 determines a relationship betweenthe caller and the callee. For example, the relationship may bedetermined based on user directory information of the calleecorresponding to an address book, contact list, directory of contacts,etc., which may be stored locally on the callee's mobile device. By wayof example and not limitation, the user directory information mayinstead or in addition be stored remotely on a server, data repository,application, website, or software service that is accessible by themobile device of the callee via a network (e.g., the Internet), althoughsuch storage on a remote server is optional. For example, according tovarious exemplary embodiments, the user directory information may bestored in connection with an e-mail application, social networkingaccount, or professional networking account of the callee that isaccessible by the determination module 202 via a network (e.g., theInternet).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of user directory information 400 of aparticular user (e.g., a prospective callee “Janet Sample”) thatidentifies multiple other users (e.g., friends, acquaintances, orcolleagues) of the callee. The user directory information 400 may bestored at, for example, the database 205 illustrated in FIG. 2. Inparticular, the user directory information 400 identifies multiple usersand, for each of the users, a name of the user, a telephone number ofthe user, and relationship data indicating a known relationship that theuser has with the callee. Non-limiting examples of relationships includea romantic relationship (or, more specifically, husband, wife, partner,boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.), a family relationship (or, morespecifically, father, mother grandfather, grandmother, son, daughter,brother, sister, uncle, nephew, niece, cousin, etc.), a friendshiprelationship, a business/work colleague relationship, a classmaterelationship, an undefined relationship, and so on. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the user directory information 400 may also include otherinformation such as a link to a personal image (e.g., a profile picture)and/or a link to a company logo associated with each user.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the user directory information400 indicates that the user “John Smith” has the telephone number“123-456-789” and has a relationship of “Romantic” with the callee orowner of the user directory information 400, whereas the user “DaveOscar” has the telephone number “123-222-789” and the relationship “WorkColleague” with the callee or owner of the user directory information400. Thus, the determination module 202 may determine the relationshipbetween the caller and the callee based on such relationship dataincluded in the user directory information 400. For example, if thecommunication request received by the callee originated from the userJohn Smith, then the determination module 202 will determine that thecorresponding relationship is the Romantic relationship, based on theuser directory information 400. On the other hand, if the communicationrequest received by the callee originated from the user Dave Oscar, thenthe determination module 202 will determine that the correspondingrelationship is the Business relationship, based on the user directoryinformation 400.

The relationship data identified in the user directory information 400may be obtained or generated in various ways. For example, according toan exemplary embodiment, the relationship data may be generated by thedetermination module 202 based on user input (e.g., by a prospectivecallee that is the owner of the user directory information 400).According to another embodiment, the determination module 202 may infera relationship (e.g., a family relationship) between a user and theprospective callee based on, for example, similarities in the last namesof the user and the callee. For example, if the owner of the userdirectory information 400 is Janet Sample, the determination module 202may determine that the relationship between a user John Sample and theprospective callee Janet Sample is a Family relationship, and the entryfor the user John Sample in the user directory information of JanetSample may indicate the Family relationship.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the relationship data may beobtained from an e-mail account of the callee. For example, thedetermination module 202 may be configured to access an e-mail accountof the prospective callee and extract a contact list/directory andassociated information from the e-mail account. The informationaccessible from the e-mail account may be used to infer the relationshipbetween the prospective callee and the multiple other users. Forexample, if the content of e-mails between the callee Janet Sample andanother user Barbara Sample includes the words “Dear Mom”, then thedetermination module 202 may infer a Family relationship between theuser Barbara Sample and the callee Janet Sample. Thus, the entry for theuser Barbara Sample in the user directory information of Janet Samplewill list a Family relationship.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the relationship data may beobtained from a social or professional networking account of theprospective callee. For example, the determination module 202 may beconfigured to access social or professional networking account of thecallee that is hosted by a social or professional networkingservice/website such as LinkedIn.com or Facebook.com. Relationship datamay be imported from such networking accounts, or the informationaccessible from such networking accounts may be used to infer therelationship between the prospective callee and multiple other users.For example, if the prospective callee's professional networking profileindicates that the prospective callee and the user Dave Oscar currentlywork at the same company, then the determination module 202 maydetermine that the relationship between Dave Oscar and the prospectivecallee is a Business relationship. As another example, if the callee'ssocial networking profile indicates that the user Jane Doe is a contact,connection, or friend of the prospective callee, then a Friendrelationship may be inferred by the determination module 202. As anotherexample, if the prospective callee's social networking profile indicatesthat the user John Smith is “in a relationship” with the prospectivecallee, then a “romantic” relationship may be inferred by thedetermination module 202.

Referring back to FIG. 3, after the determination module 202 determinesa relationship between the caller and the callee (in 302), the animationgeneration module 204 accesses animation rule information describinganimation rules corresponding to a various relationships (in 303). Theanimation rule information may be stored at, for example, the database205 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of animationrule information 500 that identifies a number of relationships, such asa Romantic relationship, a Business relationship, a Friend relationship,a Family relationship, and so on. (Some of the relationships included inthe animation rule information 500 may correspond to the relationshipsidentified in the user directory information 400 illustrated in FIG. 4).The animation rule information 500 also identifies, for each of theaforementioned relationships, an animation rule. Each animation rulerefers to any type of information (e.g., rules, instructions,algorithms, files, data, metadata, programming code, programminglanguage, etc.) that specifies or defines a particular animation. Forexample, each animation rule may correspond to a link to a filecontaining code specifying an animation, such as a Graphics InterchangeFormat (GIF) animation, a Flash animation or Flash cartoon (which iscreated using Adobe Flash or similar animation software and oftendistributed in the “.swf” file format), or a 3D animation (which may becreated with the use of Autodesk Maya, which is computer graphicssoftware that is owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc). The embodimentsof this disclosure are applicable to other types of animations createdby other electronic applications in other electronic formats, asunderstood by those skilled in the art. As described in more detailbelow, each of the animation rules may specify an animation that isrelated to—or somehow reflective of—each corresponding relationship. Forexample, the animation rule corresponding to the Romantic relationshipmay specify a romance-related animation (e.g., an animation of a heart,flowers, chocolates, candles, etc.), while the animation rulecorresponding to the Business relationship may specify a work-relatedanimation (e.g., an animation set in an office environment including acomputer, desk, office file cabinet, etc.).

Referring back to FIG. 3, after the animation generation module 204accesses the animation rule information (in 303), the animationgeneration module 204 may identify a specific one of the animation rulesin the animation rule information that corresponds to the relationshipdetermined in 302. For example, if the determination module 202determined that the relationship between the caller and the callee is aRomantic relationship, then the animation generation module 204 wouldaccess animation rule 1 corresponding to the romantic relationship (seeFIG. 5). As another example, if the determination module 202 determinedthat the relationship between the caller and the callee is a Businessrelationship, then the animation generation module 204 would accessanimation rule 2 corresponding to the Business relationship (see FIG.5).

Finally, in 304 in FIG. 3, the animation generation module 204 generatesa display of an animation via a user interface in the callee's mobiledevice. The animation generation module 204 may generate the animationbased on the specific animation rule in the animation rule information(that was accessed in 303) that corresponds to the relationship betweenthe caller and the callee (that was determined in 302). In other words,the animation generation module 204 may generate an animation that isrelated to—or in some way reflective of—the relationship between thecaller and the callee. The animation generation module 204 may displaysuch an animation in a notification screen that notifies the callee ofthe incoming call from the caller (that was received in 301).

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a notification 600 displayed in a userinterface of a callee's mobile device, where notification 600 notifiesthe callee of an incoming call from the caller John Smith. For example,the animation generation module 204 may generate the animation 601 basedon the specific animation rule in the animation rule information (seeFIG. 5) that corresponds to a relationship between the caller and thecallee (see FIG. 4). For example, if the determination module 202determines that the relationship between the caller John Smith and thecallee is a Romantic relationship (per the user directory information400 illustrated in FIG. 4), then the animation generation module 204 maygenerate the animation based on corresponding animation rule 1 (per theanimation rule information 500 illustrated in FIG. 5). As describedabove, the animation rule 1 corresponding to the Romantic relationshipmay specify a link to a file containing a romance-related animation 601of a heart, for example, and the animation generation module 204 mayaccess the animation file via the link specified in animation rule 1.Thus, since the caller John Smith has a romantic relationship with thecallee, the animation display system 200 causes a romance-relatedanimation 601 of a heart to be displayed in the notification 600. It isapparent to those skilled in the art that FIG. 6 depicts a single frameof the animation 601 in the interests of clarity, and the completeanimation 601 of the heart-shaped object may include a sequence offrames that may depict, for example, changing colors in the heart-shapedobject, movement in the heart-shaped object, and so on.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of another notification 700 displayed in auser interface of a callee's mobile device, where notification 700notifies the callee of an incoming call from the caller Dave Oscar. Ifthe determination module 202 determines that the relationship betweenthe caller Dave Oscar and the callee is a business relationship (per theuser directory information 400 illustrated in FIG. 4), then theanimation generation module 204 may generate the animation based oncorresponding animation rule 2 (per the animation rule information 500illustrated in FIG. 5). For example, the animation rule 2 correspondingto the business relationship may specify a link to a file containing abusiness-related animation 701 of an office file cabinet, and theanimation generation module 204 may access the animation file via thelink specified in the animation rule 2. Thus, since the caller DaveOscar has a business relationship with the callee, the animation displaysystem 200 causes a business related animation 701 of an office filecabinet to be displayed in the notification 700. It is apparent to thoseskilled in the art that FIG. 7 depicts a single frame of the animation701 in the interests of clarity, and the complete animation 701 mayinclude a sequence of frames that may depict, for example, movement ofthe file cabinet, papers being inserted or removed from the filecabinet, and so on.

It is apparent that various operations may be performed partially orwholly at a mobile device or at a server. For example, the determinationmodule 202 and/or animation generation module 204 may be implemented byone or more processors on a callee's mobile device, or a server incommunication with the callee's mobile device (e.g., the servers 118illustrated in FIG. 1). Further, user directory information and/oranimation rules may be stored on the callee's mobile device, or at aserver (e.g., the callee's mobile device may sync with the server inorder to access such user directory information or animation rules).Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, the animation rules may bestored on a server, and animation may be generated by the server(instead or in addition to the callee's phone), and the server maytransmit the animation to the callee's phone, in order to cause theanimation to be displayed via a user interface of the callee's phone.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the animations generated bythe animation generation module 204 may include media contentrepresenting the identities of the caller or callee, such as profilepictures, photographs, videos, company logos, etc. For example, one ormore of the animation files may include code or instructions specifyinganimations where external image data may be inserted into the animationat specific positions and frames. The animation file may specify hookpoints/portions, insertion points/portions, or interleavepoints/portions in each frame of an animation, wherein an imagespecified by an external image file may be inserted into the animationat these hook points, insertion points, or interleave points, to therebycreate a composite or interleaved animation including interleaved mediacontent. In an example described above, if the caller and the calleehave a Romantic relationship, the animation display system 200 maygenerate an animation of the caller's profile pic and the callee'sprofile pic moving together over a heart-shaped background. Thus, thecorresponding animation file for this romance-related animation mayspecify a code or instructions for the animation of a heart-shapedbackground, and may specify hook points, insertion points, or interleavepoints where image data (e.g., representing profile pictures of thecaller and callee) may be inserted into specific positions in theanimation with respect to the heart-shaped background. In anotherexample described above, if the caller and the callee have a businessrelationship, then the animation display system 200 may generate ananimation of the caller at work in an office with a computer or filecabinet, with the company logo of the caller displayed on the wall ofthe office. Thus, the corresponding animation file for thisbusiness-related animation may specify a code or instructions for thisanimation that specify an office environment with an office file cabinetas a background, and may specify hook points, insertion points, orinterleave points where image data (representing profile pictures of thecaller, callee and/or company logos, etc.) may be inserted into specificpositions in the animation with respect to the office environmentbackground.

For example, FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a notification screen 800that may be displayed when a user receives an incoming call from thecaller “John Smith”, which is similar to the notification screen 600illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the notification screen800 includes romance-related animation 801, similar to the romancerelated animation 601 illustrated in FIG. 6. Moreover, theromance-related animation 801 includes a profile picture or photograph802 of the caller John Smith as well as a profile picture or photograph803 of the callee, where romance-related animation 801 display thecaller's profile pic and the callee's profile pic moving together over aheart-shaped background. It should be understood that the animation 801illustrated in FIG. 8 is merely a screenshot or snapshot of a singleframe in the animation. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates three frames901, 902, and 903 corresponding to the example animation 801 illustratedin FIG. 8. FIG. 9 illustrates more clearly the nature of the exampleanimation 801, wherein the profile picture or photograph 802 of thecaller John Smith and the profile picture or photograph 803 of thecallee may move closer to each other over the background of aheart-shape that is increasing in size. As another example, FIG. 10illustrates an example of a notification screen 1000 that may bedisplayed when a user receives an incoming call from the caller “DaveOscar”, which is similar to the notification screen 700 illustrated inFIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the notification screen 1000 includesbusiness-related animation 1001, similar to the business-relatedanimation 701 illustrated in FIG. 7. The business-related animation 1001includes a profile picture or photograph 1002 of the caller Dave Oscarand a company logo 1003 of the caller Dave Oscar displayed on the wallof an office environment that includes an office file cabinet, whereinthe animation may display the caller working in the office environment,opening or closing the file cabinets, etc. It should be understood thatthe animation 1001 illustrated in FIG. 10 is merely a screenshot orsnapshot of a single frame in the animation. Thus, according to variousexemplary embodiments, the animation display system 200 may access anumber of animation rules corresponding to a number of relationships,where each of the animation rules specifies an animation that may begenerated based on media content associated with one or more usershaving the corresponding relationship.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 1100, consistentwith various embodiments described above. The method 1100 may beperformed at least in part by, for example, the animation display system200 illustrated in FIG. 2 (or an apparatus having similar modules, suchas client machines 110 and 112 or application server 112 illustrated inFIG. 1). Operations 1101-1103 in the method 1100 are similar tooperations 301-303 in the method 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. For example,in 1101, the determination module 202 receives, at a mobile deviceassociated with a callee, a communication request from a caller. In1102, the determination module 202 determines a relationship between thecaller and the callee, based on user directory information. In 1103, theanimation generation module 204 accesses animation rule informationdescribing animation rules corresponding to various relationships. In1104, the animation generation module 204 accesses media contentcorresponding to the callee or caller. For example, the media contentmay correspond to a photograph, picture, logo, video, or animationassociated with the callee or caller. Finally, in 1105, the animationgeneration module 204 generates a display of an animation, via a userinterface in the mobile device of the callee, based on a specific one ofthe animation rules in the animation rule information that correspondsto the relationship determined in 1102 (i.e., the relationship betweenthe caller and the callee). For example, the animation may be generatedbased on the media content corresponding to the callee or the callerthat was accessed in 1104.

While various exemplary embodiments throughout refer to a “call” ortelephone call as an example of an electronic communication request, itshould be understood that the various embodiments of this disclosure areapplicable to any type of electronic communication or electroniccommunication request. For example, other types of electroniccommunications or electronic communication requests include e-mailmessages, notifications, text messages (e.g., short message service orSMS messages, multimedia messaging service or MMS messages, etc.),instant messages, chat requests, video chat request, and so on. Forexample, FIG. 12 illustrates an example of an exemplary portion of auser interface displaying a notification of a text message 1200 receivedfrom the user John Smith. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the content portionof the text message 1201 includes the actual text message “What u upto2nite baby?”, as well as an animation in the background of the contentportion of the text message (similar to the romance-related animationillustrated in FIG. 8). As another example, FIG. 13 illustrates anexample of an exemplary portion of a user interface displaying an e-mailmessage 1300 received from the user Dave Oscar. As illustrated in FIG.13, the content portion of the e-mail message 1300 includes the actualtext of the e-mail message “Hey team . . . ”. Moreover, a banner portion1301 of the e-mail 1300 displays an animation 1302, similar to thebusiness-related animation 1001 illustrated in FIG. 10. According to anexemplary embodiment, animations generated by the animation displaysystem 200 may be displayed underneath other content, such as text orgraphics included in a text message, email, etc., such that theanimation appears as if it is embedded or blended into the background ofthe text message, email, etc. For example, the animation display system200 may generate and display animations utilizing the technique of“alpha blending”, which involves a convex combination of multiple colorsallowing for transparency and translucency effects in computer graphics,using different perceived layers of colour, material and texture. Thetechnique of alpha blending is known by those skilled in the art andwill not be described in more detail, in order to avoid occluding theaspects of this disclosure.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary“caller” referenced in various embodiments throughout may correspond toany source or sender of any type of electronic communication orelectronic communication request. The exemplary “callee” referenced invarious embodiments throughout may correspond to any destination orrecipient of any type of electronic communication or electroniccommunication request. While various exemplary embodiments throughoutrefer to the display of animations, the aspects of this disclosure areapplicable to the display of other types of content such as, forexample, images, pictures, graphics, illustrations, drawings,photographs, videos, stills or frames of animations or videos, and soon. According to various exemplary embodiments, the animations displayedby the animation display system 200 may include the media contentrepresenting the caller or callee in an animation that is notnecessarily related to the relationship between the caller and thecallee. Any of the animations described throughout may be displayedduring an active phone conversation. For example, after the calleeselects an “Answer” button in a notification screen that may or may notdisplay an animation (e.g., see FIG. 6), the animation display system200 may then display the animation in the background of the userinterface of the callee's mobile device during the active phoneconversation.

As described in various embodiments above, the determination module 202is configured to determine a relationship between the caller and callee,based on user directory information. For example, according to anexemplary embodiment, the relationship information included in the userdirectory information may be defined based on user input by the calleethat is the owner of the user directory information. An example of userdirectory information 400 is illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the userdirectory information 400 may correspond to a contact list, phonebook,directory, etc., of the prospective callee. Accordingly, by modifyingthe contact list, phonebook, directory, etc., corresponding to the userdirectory information 400, the user is able to specify the relationshipdata included in the user directory information 400.

For example, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrates examples of user interfaces1400 and 1500 that may be displayed by the animation display system 200on a device, such as a mobile device or smartphone associated with theprospective callee. The user interface 1400 displays a profile page forthe contact “John Smith”, including information in the correspondingentry in the user directory information 400 for the contact “JohnSmith”. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the profile page 1400 displays aprofile picture 1401 of the contact, and includes various contactinformation 1402 about the contact, including name, phone number,e-mail, relationship, etc. The callee may select the “Edit Profile” userinterface element 1403 (e.g., user interface button) in order to editthe various information (including name, telephone number, e-mail, andrelationship) associated with this contact. For example, if the userselects the “Edit Profile” user interface element 1403, then theanimation display system 200 may display, via a user interface in adevice, of an edit page 1500 illustrated in FIG. 15, which permits theuser to edit to various information about the contact “John Smith”, suchas name, organization, phone and e-mail. In other words, the userinterface 1500 enables the user to modify the corresponding entry in theuser directory information 400 corresponding to the contact “JohnSmith”. The user interface 1500 of FIG. 15 allows the callee to specifyor define a relationship between this particular contact and the callee,such as a romantic relationship, family relationship, businessrelationship, friend relationship, etc. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 15, it can be seen that the callee has specified that therelationship between the contact “John Smith” and the callee is aromantic relationship. Moreover, the user interface 1500 permits thecallee to change a profile picture of the contact.

Consistent with various embodiments described above, the animationgeneration module 204 accesses animation rule information describinganimation rules corresponding to a various relationships. According tovarious exemplary embodiments, the user of the animation display system200 is permitted to select, specify, or define the animation and/oranimation rule corresponding to each relationship. FIG. 16 illustratesan example of a user interface displaying an edit page 1600 enabling thecallee to edit the animation rules associated with each of therelationships (e.g., the user can edit the animation rule 1corresponding to the romantic relationship, or edit the animation rule 2corresponding to the family relationship, etc.). For example, if theuser selects the edit button 1601 in order to edit the animation rule 1corresponding to the romantic relationship, the animation display system200 may display the user interface 1700 illustrated in FIG. 17, whichallows the user to specify the animation for animation rule 1 by, forexample, selecting from one of a number of predefined animation samplesor templates, such as templates A-F illustrated in FIG. 17. If the userselects one of the animation templates, the animation display system 200may display more information about the selected animation template andenable the user to specify this selected animation template as theanimation for the appropriate animation rule 1.

For example, if the user selects on the Animation Template A 1701illustrated in FIG. 17, the animation display system 200 may display theuser interface 1800 illustrated in FIG. 18 which allows the user to viewthe Animation Template A displayed in the animation window 1801. Asillustrated in FIG. 18, the animation window 1801 displaying theAnimation Template A may indicate portions where various external mediacontent (e.g., profile pictures or logos of the caller or callee) may beinserted. For example, the animation window 1801 displays abusiness-related animation similar to the business-related animation1001 illustrated in FIG. 10, where the blank portions 1802 and 1803indicate where the caller profile picture and caller company logorespectively may be inserted by the animation display system 200.According to various embodiments, the animation display system 200 mayautomatically obtain the external media content (e.g., profile pictureof the caller and the company logo of the caller) and insert the mediacontent into the appropriate positions 1802 and 1803 in an animationdisplayed in a notification screen in conjunction with an incoming callfrom a caller. The animation display system 200 may obtain the externalmedia content corresponding to various users (such as profile pictures,graphics, photographs, videos, company logos, etc.) via the linksincluded in the user directory information 400 illustrated in FIG. 4.The user interface window 1800 also includes buttons 1804 and 1805allowing the user (callee) to specify their own profile picture, companylogo, or other media content for insertion (if applicable) into theanimation displayed in the animation window 1801. According to variousembodiments, if the user selects and drags one of the blank portions1802 or 1803 (e.g., by controlling a cursor via user manipulation of amouse or trackpad), the user can drag these portions 1802 and 1803 inorder to change the positions where the corresponding media content willbe inserted. If the user selects the “Select” button 1808, the user mayspecify this selected animation in the animation window 1801 as theanimation for the appropriate animation rule 1.

FIG. 19 illustrates another example of an animation (including threeseparate animation frames 1901-1903 in an animation sequence) that maybe displayed in the animation window (e.g., see animation window 1801 inFIG. 18). In particular, the animation illustrated in FIG. 19 maycorrespond to the animation illustrated in FIG. 9. Thus, an animationwindow displaying the animation in FIG. 19 indicates insertion pointswhere the profile picture of the caller 1902 and the profile picture ofthe callee 1903 may be inserted.

Consistent with various exemplary embodiments described above, theprofile picture of the caller may be specified in user directoryinformation, phone book, phone list, contact list, contact directory,etc. of the callee, which may be stored locally on the callee's mobilephone or which may be stored remotely in a storage repository accessiblevia a network (e.g., the Internet). According to another exemplaryembodiment, the profile picture or company logo of the caller mayactually be provided by the caller before or during a telephone call.For example, information representing the profile picture or companylogo of the caller may be included in data corresponding to acommunication request (e.g., telephone call, text message, instantmessage etc.) that is transmitted to the mobile device of the callee.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the user may select the userinterface buttons 1806 and 1807 in FIG. 18 in order to use the caller'spreferences for the caller profile picture and caller company logo (asopposed to utilizing a profile picture or a company logo of the callerthat is already included in the user directory information of thecallee). In other words, when the callee's device receives thecommunication request from the caller, the data of this communicationrequest may include the information representing the caller's profilepicture, the caller's company logo, etc. Thus, the animation displaysystem 200 may obtain this information and insert it into an animation,if appropriate. For example, the animation display system 200 may obtainthe caller profile picture and caller company logo and insert them intothe appropriate positions 1802 and 1803 in the animation displayed inthe window 1801. A user (e.g., a callee) may override suchcaller-dictated preferences by selecting or de-selecting the userinterface selection buttons 1806 and 1807, as appropriate.

Consistent with various exemplary embodiments, the animation rule for agiven relationship may be specified by the callee, by using the userinterface in FIG. 16, for example. According to another exemplaryembodiment, the caller may specify the animation and/or animation rule.For example, if the user selects the user interface element 1702illustrated in FIG. 17, the animation display system 200 may access dataincluded in a communication request from the caller (e.g., telephonecall, text message, instant message, etc.) that identifies an animationrule or animation information, and display an animation based on thisaccessed data.

The animations described throughout (e.g., the animationssamples/templates illustrated in FIG. 17) may be developed by a thirdparty and imported onto the mobile device of the callee or server, foraccess by the animation display system 200. For example, if aprospective callee selects the “Search for other animation” button 1703in FIG. 17, the user can search for a variety of animation templateswhich may be developed by a third party and which may be stored remotelyon a server, data repository, application, website, or software servicethat is accessible by the mobile device of the callee via a network(e.g., the Internet). Alternatively, the user can install or createtheir own custom animations. For example, if the user select the “Uploadanimation” button 1704 illustrated in FIG. 17, the user can browse forand select an animation file for upload to the animation display system200 (e.g., the uploaded animation may be displayed as one of theanimation samples/templates illustrated in FIG. 17).

According to various exemplary embodiments, animations or animationtemplates (e.g., calling cards) may be created by users and sharedthrough face-to-face meetings with other users. For example, a userSteve Smith may generate an animation and store it on his mobile device,and may share this animation with another user by transmitting it to theother user's online storage account or mobile device (e.g., viaBluetooth or near field communications (NFC)). As another example,electronic communications transmitted between users (e.g., e-mails, textmessages, etc.) may include links to animations (e.g., calling cards)associated with the sender. Animations may thus be accessed by theanimation display system 200 and stored in an online storage account oron the mobile device of the recipient, for use in displaying animationson the recipient's mobile device (e.g., such animations may be displayedin the user interface in FIG. 17). According to an exemplary embodiment,the animation display system 200 enables a recipient of an animation topreview the animation before accepting installation of the animation inthe online storage account or mobile device of the recipient. Accordingto various exemplary embodiments, the animations may be transmittedtogether with distribution rules or policies governing the distributionof such animations. For example, an animation may transmitted togetherwith a distribution rule stating that the animation may not be sharedwith others after it is transmitted to a first recipient. According tovarious exemplary embodiments, the animations may be transmittedtogether with rules restricting whether or not the animations maycollect or emit any information (e.g., user profile information, usercontact information, etc.) while executing on a recipient's mobiledevice.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the animation display system 200may also send an animation back from the callee's mobile device to thecaller's mobile device. For example, if the callee selects the “Answer”button in a notification of an incoming call (e.g., see FIG. 6), theanimation display system 200 may transmit an animation back to thecaller's mobile device for display on the caller's mobile device, wherethe may include any of the features described in various embodimentsthroughout. As another example, if the user selects the “Ignore” buttonin a notification of an incoming call (e.g., see FIG. 6), the animationdisplay system 200 may transmit an animation back to the caller mobiledevice, where the animation may include text, pictures, graphics, orother content indicating that the callee is unable to answer. Forexample, the animation may include the text “I'm answering another callright now, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can”, with an animationof the callee holding multiple phones. Other examples of animationsindicating various communication statuses will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art (e.g., “Busy”, “Away From Desk”, “Out of Office”,“Working from Home”, “On Vacation”, “Out of Town”).

Turning now to FIGS. 20-23, according to various exemplary embodiments,when a call is received from a caller, the animation display system 200may display an animation on the callee's device that includesinformation about the location of the caller, or in some way representsor depicts the location of the caller. The determination module 202 maydetermine or access the location of the caller (or the caller's mobiledevice) in any one of various ways. For example, according to variousexemplary embodiments, the communication request received from thecaller (e.g., incoming phone call received via a cellular or VoIPnetwork, incoming e-mail, incoming text message, incoming instantmessage, incoming video chat request, etc.) may include datarepresenting the location of the caller. Such location data may begenerated by the caller's mobile device using any one of various methodsunderstood by those skilled in the art, including through the use ofglobal positioning systems (GPSs) or geo-location systems installed inthe caller's mobile device. As another example, the determination module202 may access the location of the caller from a remote onlinerepository or database accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet). Asanother example, the determination module 202 may determine the locationof the caller by accessing current location information posted a socialmedia account of the caller hosted by a social networking service, suchas Facebook.

After the determination module 202 determines the current location ofthe caller (or the caller's mobile device), the animation generationmodule 204 may display an animation including a map that identifies ordepicts the current location of the caller. For example, thedetermination module 202 may determine the street address location ofthe caller, and the animation generation module 204 may access a mapimage that illustrates the determined street address. For example, theanimation generation module 204 may access a mapping application or anAPI of a mapping application (such as Google maps) and request a mapthat illustrates the determined street address. For example, FIG. 20illustrates an example of a notification screen 2000 displayed on thecallee's mobile device by the animation display system 200, when thecallee receives a call from a caller John Smith. The notification screen2000 displays a map 2001 that includes indicia 2003 that identifies thecurrent location of the caller John Smith. The indicia may include mediacontent 2003 representing the caller, such as a profile picture of thecaller, consistent various embodiments described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the determination module 202 may alsodetermine the location the callee (or the callee's mobile device) usingany one of the methods known to those skilled in the art, and the map2001 displayed by the animation generation module 204 may also depictthe current location of the callee with respect to the caller. The map2001 may include media content 2002 representing the callee, such as aprofile picture of the callee, consistent various embodiments describedabove. The map 2001 may correspond to an animation (e.g., an animationof a moving map, and animation zooming in or zooming out of a map, ananimation of a map where the representation of the caller or callee ismoving, possibly based on the movement of the mobile devices of thecaller or callee, etc.). The notification 2000 displayed by theanimation display system 200 may also identify the distance between thecurrent location of the caller and the current location of the callee,as well as a link 2004 for accessing directions to enable the callee totravel to the current location of the caller.

The animation display system 200 may include various privacy-relatedprovisions for confirming that a caller or callee has authorized thedissemination and display of their current location. For example, theanimation display system 200 may require the caller to “opt-in” beforethe current location of the caller is displayed in an animation.According to various exemplary embodiments, if the caller “opts-in’” orotherwise provides approval for display of caller location information,the communication request transmitted to the callee may includeauthorization information indicating that the animation display system200 is authorized to access and display the location of the caller.Alternatively, the authorization information may instead or in additionbe stored remotely on a server, data repository, application, website,or software service that is accessible by the mobile device of thecallee via a network (e.g., the Internet), although such storage on aremote server is optional. Similarly, the animation display system 200may require the callee to “opt-in” before the current location of thecallee is displayed in an animation, such as in an animation transmittedto a caller device as described in various embodiments above. Accordingto various exemplary embodiments, if the callee “opts-in’” or otherwiseprovides approval for display of callee location information, theanimation transmitted back the caller's mobile device may includeauthorization information indicating that the caller's mobile device isauthorized to access and display the location of the caller.Alternatively, the authorization information may instead or in additionbe stored remotely on a server, data repository, application, website,or software service that is accessible by the mobile device of thecallee via a network (e.g., the Internet), although such storage on aremote server is optional.

According to various embodiments, the animation may include content thatdepicts the location of the caller or an activity likely being performedby the caller at their current location. For example, after theanimation display system 200 identifies the current location of themobile device of the caller, the determination module 202 may comparethis location against a database listing known features located at thatlocation (such as streets, homes, landmarks, tourist attractions,venues, structures, establishments buildings, businesses, restaurants,shopping destinations, parks, schools, etc.). Thereafter, the animationgeneration module 204 may access and display an animation associatedwith this feature located at the location of the caller. For example, ifthe determination module 202 determines that the caller is located at arestaurant, then the animation generation module 204 may access arestaurant-related animation. As another example, if the determinationmodule 202 determines that the caller is located at shoppingestablishment, then the animation generation module 204 may access ashopping-related animation. For example, FIG. 21 illustrates an exampleof a notification screen 2100 displayed on the callee's mobile device bythe animation display system 200, when the callee receives a call from acaller John Smith. If the determination module 202 has determined thatthe caller John Smith is located at a restaurant “Pete's Burgers”, thenthe animation generation module 204 may display a restaurant-relatedanimation 2102, as illustrated in the animation window to 2201. Theanimation 2100 may include media content 2003 representing the caller,such as a profile picture of the caller, consistent various embodimentsdescribed above. Animation 2100 displayed by the animation displaysystem 200 may also identify the distance between the current locationof the caller and the current location of the callee, as well as a link2103 for accessing directions to enable the callee to travel to thecurrent location of the caller.

According to various embodiments, the animation display system 200 maydisplay an animation combining a map identifying the current location ofthe caller (as illustrated in FIG. 20) and a location-specific animation(as illustrated in FIG. 21). For example, FIG. 22 illustrates an exampleof a notification screen 2200 displayed on the callee's mobile device bythe animation display system 200, when the callee receives a call from acaller John Smith. The notification 2200 includes an animation 2201 thatincludes a map illustrating the current location of the caller 2003 andthe current location of the callee 2002, as well as a location-specificanimation 2102 that depicts the location of the caller or an activitylikely being performed by the caller at their location.

Accordingly to various exemplary embodiments, the animation displaysystem 200 may display or utilize the current location of a caller in ananimation (e.g., see animations in FIGS. 20-22), in response to thedistance between the caller and the callee being less than apredetermined threshold, indicating that the caller and callee aregeographically close or within the same vicinity.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 2300, consistentwith various embodiments described above. The method 2300 may beperformed at least in part by, for example, the animation display system200 illustrated in FIG. 2 (or an apparatus having similar modules, suchas client machines 110 and 112 or application server 112 illustrated inFIG. 1). In 2301, the determination module 202 receives, at a mobiledevice associated with a first user (the “callee”), a communicationrequest from a second user (the “caller”). In 2302, the determinationmodule 202 determines a current location of a second mobile deviceassociated with the caller. In 2303, the determination module 202calculates a distance between the current location of the second mobiledevice of the caller and a current location of the first mobile deviceof the callee. (Note that 2303 is optional). In 2304, the animationgeneration module generates a display of an animation in the mobiledevice of the callee. The animation may include a map identifying thecurrent location of the caller (see FIG. 20). The animation may includea location-specific animation based on the current location of thecaller (see FIG. 21). The animation may display a distance between thecurrent location of the caller and the callee, and directions (or a linkto directions) to the current location of the caller.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the animation system 200 mayalso be used to protect a user against automated solicitation calls,commonly referred to as robot calls, robo calls or spam calls. Forexample, if the animation display system 200 detects an incoming call atthe callee's mobile device from an unknown caller (e.g., a caller not inthe user directory information of the callee), and if the animationdisplay system 200 determines that the current location of the callercannot be determined, then the animation display system 200 may displayan animation or notification on the callee's mobile device informing thecallee of these facts. Thus, the callee can choose not to answer thecall, since the callee cannot confirm where the call is coming from orthe current location of the caller. As another example, after theanimation display system 200 detects an incoming call at the callee'smobile device from an unknown caller (e.g., a caller not in the userdirectory information of the callee), the animation display system 200may transmit a test animation back to the caller's mobile device. Thetest animation may include a simple puzzle, game, question, query,password request, secret code request, etc., to be solved, answered, orotherwise completed by the caller. If the caller does not successfullycomplete the test animation as expected, then a signal may betransmitted back to the animation display system 200, which may displayan animation or notification on the callee's mobile device indicatingthat the current incoming call may be a robot call, robo call or spamcall. Thus, the callee can choose not to answer the call.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the caller's interactionswith the test animation (e.g., the attempts to solve the puzzle by thecaller) may be displayed in real-time on the callee's mobile device. Asthe caller interacts with the test animation by, for example, movingpieces of a puzzle or typing an answer into an answer entry field, thisinformation may be transmitted back to the callee's mobile device viathe animation display system 200, and the interaction may be displayedin real-time on the callee's mobile device. Thus, even if the caller isnot successfully completing the puzzle, the callee can still choose toanswer the call, if it appears that the caller is a person making abona-fide attempt to solve the puzzle, as opposed to a robo-call systemthat is not actively interacting with the puzzle, for example. Note thatthis real-time viewing of the caller attempting to solve a puzzle mayrequire internet access on the part of both the caller's mobile deviceand the callee's mobile device, in order to allow for two way digitalcommunication between the mobile devices of the test animation and theinteraction data.

According to various exemplary embodiments, instead of transmitting atest animation directly to the caller's mobile device, the animationdisplay system 200 may automatically transmit a text message to thecaller with instructions and/or a link for accessing a website orapplication for activating a task (e.g., a simple puzzle, game,question, query, password request, secret code request, etc.) to besolved, answered, or otherwise completed by the caller for the purposesof screening against automated solicitation calls such as robo calls.

According to various exemplary embodiments, if the caller is placing acall from a telephonic device other than a cell phone (e.g., a phoneconnected to a landline, a pay phone, a kiosk, etc.), after theanimation display system 200 detects the incoming call at the callee'smobile device, the animation display system 200 may transmit a recordedmessage back to the caller for playback. The recorded message mayinclude instructions and/or links for accessing a website, application,and/or another interactive device for activating a task (e.g., a simplepuzzle, game, question, query, password request, secret code request,etc.) to be solved, answered, or otherwise completed by the caller forthe purposes of screening against automated solicitation calls such asrobo calls. According to various exemplary embodiments, in a case wherethe caller does not have access to the internet or an internet-connecteddevice, the recorded message may include an interactive voice-basedgateway menu that asks questions and permits the user to answer thequestions using voice responses and/or key pad entries. For example, theinteractive voice-based gateway menu may ask questions to defend againstrobo calls such as: “Press 1 to access interactive menu for callerauthentication”, “What is the capitol city of Mongolia?”, “Using yourkeypad, spell Cat”, “What is the third letter of the second month of theyear”, “What is the callee's last name?”, “Enter your phone number toreceive a text for validation instructions”, and so on.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the test animation includinga puzzle may be transmitted with various security provisions such astime limits in order to further defend the callee against Robo calls.For example, the security provisions may state that the puzzle istemporary and is time locked (such that it can only be executed within acertain time interval, to prevent memorization of puzzle solutions byrecipients), or that the puzzle has an execution limit indicating thatit can only be run once, or that the puzzle has a maximum amount of timefor completion (e.g., 15 seconds), or that the puzzle requires entry ofcontact information of the caller (e.g., callback number) for texting orotherwise transmitting a check value for inclusion in the puzzle, etc.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 2400, consistentwith various embodiments described above. The method 2400 may beperformed at least in part by, for example, the animation display system200 illustrated in FIG. 2 (or an apparatus having similar modules, suchas client machines 110 and 112 or application server 112 illustrated inFIG. 1). In 2401, the determination module 202 detects a communicationrequest from a caller's mobile device that is received at a mobiledevice of a callee. In 2402, the animation generation module 204transmits a test animation to the caller's mobile device and generates adisplay of the test animation in the caller's mobile device. In 2403,the animation generation module 204 detects whether or not the callerhas successfully interacted with the test animation (e.g., successfullycompleted a puzzle included in the test animation). In variousembodiments described above, the caller's interaction with the testanimation may be transmitted back to the callee's mobile device forviewing in real-time by the callee. In 2404, the animation generationmodule 204 generates a display of a Robo call report (e.g., ananimation) in the callee's mobile device, where such report or animationindicates whether or not the caller has successfully interacted with thetest animation.

Modules, Components and Logic

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute eithersoftware modules (e.g., code embodied (1) on a non-transitorymachine-readable medium or (2) in a transmission signal) orhardware-implemented modules. A hardware-implemented module is tangibleunit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured orarranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, one or morecomputer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system)or one or more processors may be configured by software (e.g., anapplication or application portion) as a hardware-implemented modulethat operates to perform certain operations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a hardware-implemented module may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware-implementedmodule may comprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanentlyconfigured (e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC)) to perform certain operations. A hardware-implementedmodule may also comprise programmable logic or circuitry (e.g., asencompassed within a general-purpose processor or other programmableprocessor) that is temporarily configured by software to perform certainoperations. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement ahardware-implemented module mechanically, in dedicated and permanentlyconfigured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g.,configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware-implemented module” should be understoodto encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarily ortransitorily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certainmanner and/or to perform certain operations described herein.Considering embodiments in which hardware-implemented modules aretemporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of thehardware-implemented modules need not be configured or instantiated atany one instance in time. For example, where the hardware-implementedmodules comprise a general-purpose processor configured using software,the general-purpose processor may be configured as respective differenthardware-implemented modules at different times. Software mayaccordingly configure a processor, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware-implemented module at one instance of time and toconstitute a different hardware-implemented module at a differentinstance of time.

Hardware-implemented modules can provide information to, and receiveinformation from, other hardware-implemented modules. Accordingly, thedescribed hardware-implemented modules may be regarded as beingcommunicatively coupled. Where multiple of such hardware-implementedmodules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved throughsignal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses) thatconnect the hardware-implemented modules. In embodiments in whichmultiple hardware-implemented modules are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware-implementedmodules may be achieved, for example, through the storage and retrievalof information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware-implemented modules have access. For example, onehardware-implemented module may perform an operation, and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware-implemented module may then,at a later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process thestored output. Hardware-implemented modules may also initiatecommunications with input or output devices, and can operate on aresource (e.g., a collection of information).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of amethod may be performed by one or processors or processor-implementedmodules. The performance of certain of the operations may be distributedamong the one or more processors, not only residing within a singlemachine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some exampleembodiments, the processor or processors may be located in a singlelocation (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment or as aserver farm), while in other embodiments the processors may bedistributed across a number of locations.

The one or more processors may also operate to support performance ofthe relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a“software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of theoperations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples ofmachines including processors), these operations being accessible via anetwork (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces(e.g., Application Program Interfaces (APIs).)

Electronic Apparatus and System

Example embodiments may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them.Example embodiments may be implemented using a computer program product,e.g., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier,e.g., in a machine-readable medium for execution by, or to control theoperation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor,a computer, or multiple computers.

A computer program can be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, subroutine,or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

In example embodiments, operations may be performed by one or moreprogrammable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions by operating on input data and generating output. Methodoperations can also be performed by, and apparatus of exampleembodiments may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry,e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC).

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other. Inembodiments deploying a programmable computing system, it will beappreciated that that both hardware and software architectures requireconsideration. Specifically, it will be appreciated that the choice ofwhether to implement certain functionality in permanently configuredhardware (e.g., an ASIC), in temporarily configured hardware (e.g., acombination of software and a programmable processor), or a combinationof permanently and temporarily configured hardware may be a designchoice. Below are set out hardware (e.g., machine) and softwarearchitectures that may be deployed, in various example embodiments.

Example Machine Architecture and Machine-Readable Medium

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of machine in the example form of a computersystem 2500 within which instructions, for causing the machine toperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may beexecuted. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as astandalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in thecapacity of a server or a client machine in server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), acellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 2500 includes a processor 2502 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 2504 and a static memory 2506, which communicatewith each other via a bus 2508. The computer system 2500 may furtherinclude a video display unit 2510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 2500 also includes analphanumeric input device 2512 (e.g., a keyboard or a touch-sensitivedisplay screen), a user interface (UI) navigation device 2514 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 2516, a signal generation device 2518 (e.g., aspeaker) and a network interface device 2520.

Machine-Readable Medium

The disk drive unit 2516 includes a machine-readable medium 2522 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures(e.g., software) 2524 embodying or utilized by any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 2524 mayalso reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory2504 and/or within the processor 2502 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 2500, the main memory 2504 and the processor 2502 alsoconstituting machine-readable media.

While the machine-readable medium 2522 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may include asingle medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one ormore instructions or data structures. The term “machine-readable medium”shall also be taken to include any tangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention, or that is capable of storing,encoding or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with suchinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly betaken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, andoptical and magnetic media. Specific examples of machine-readable mediainclude non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices, e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM),Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flashmemory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removabledisks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

Transmission Medium

The instructions 2524 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 2526 using a transmission medium. Theinstructions 2524 may be transmitted using the network interface device2520 and any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g.,HTTP). Examples of communication networks include a local area network(“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), the Internet, mobile telephonenetworks, Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless datanetworks (e.g., WiFi and WiMax networks). The term “transmission medium”shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machine,and includes digital or analog communications signals or otherintangible media to facilitate communication of such software.

Although an embodiment has been described with reference to specificexample embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense. The accompanying drawings that form a parthereof, show by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specificembodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. Theembodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein.Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofvarious embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along withthe full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, at a first mobiledevice associated with a first user, a communication request from asecond user; determining a relationship between the second user and thefirst user, based on user directory information; accessing animationrule information describing a plurality of animation rules correspondingto a plurality of relationships; and generating a display of ananimation, via a user interface in the first mobile device, based on aspecific animation rule in the animation rule information thatcorresponds to the determined relationship.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the specific animation rule specifies an animation to begenerated, based on media data associated with users having thedetermined relationship.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingaccessing media data corresponding to the first user or the second user,wherein the animation is generated based on the media data correspondingto the first user or the second user and the specific animation rule. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the media data corresponds to at leastone of a photograph, a picture, a logo, a video, or an animationassociated with the first user or the second user.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the user directory information identifies a pluralityof users and, for one or more of the plurality of users, a knownrelationship with the first user.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theknown relationship is specified by the first user.
 7. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the known relationship is imported from an emailaccount or social network account of the first user.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising determining a current location of a secondmobile device associated with the second user, wherein the animationincludes a map identifying the current location of the second mobiledevice.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining acurrent location of a second mobile device associated with the seconduser, wherein the animation includes a location-specific animation basedon the current location of the second mobile device.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining a current location of a secondmobile device associated with the second user; and calculating adistance between the current location of the second mobile device and acurrent location of the first mobile device, wherein the animationidentifies the distance.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein thecommunication request corresponds to a telephone call, a text message,an instant message, an email message, or a video chat request.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the determined relationship is at least oneof a romantic relationship, a friendship relationship, a familialrelationship, a business relationship, and an undefined relationship.13. An apparatus comprising: a determination module configured to:receive, at a first mobile device associated with a first user, acommunication request from a second user; and determine a relationshipbetween the second user and the first user, based on user directoryinformation; and an animation generation module, implemented by one ormore processors, configured to: access animation rule informationdescribing a plurality of animation rules corresponding to a pluralityof relationships; and generate a display of an animation, via a userinterface in the first mobile device, based on a specific animation rulein the animation rule information that corresponds to the determinedrelationship.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the specificanimation rule specifies an animation to be generated, based on mediadata associated with users having the determined relationship.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the animation generation module isfurther configured to access media data corresponding to the first useror the second user, and wherein the animation is generated based on themedia data corresponding to the first user or the second user and thespecific animation rule.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein themedia data corresponds to at least one of a photograph, a picture, alogo, a video, or an animation associated with the first user or thesecond user.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user directoryinformation identifies a plurality of users and, for one or more of theplurality of users, a known relationship with the first user.
 18. Anon-transitory machine-readable storage medium having embodied thereoninstructions executable by one or more machines to perform operationscomprising: receiving, at a first mobile device associated with a firstuser, a communication request from a second user; determining arelationship between the second user and the first user, based on userdirectory information; accessing animation rule information describing aplurality of animation rules corresponding to a plurality ofrelationships; and generating a display of an animation, via a userinterface in the first mobile device, based on a specific animation rulein the animation rule information that corresponds to the determinedrelationship.
 19. The storage medium of claim 18, wherein the specificanimation rule specifies an animation to be generated based on mediadata associated with users having the determined relationship.
 20. Thestorage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further compriseaccessing media data corresponding to the first user or the second user,and wherein the animation is generated based on the media datacorresponding to the first user or the second user and the specificanimation rule.